Volcanoes
The Japanese archipelago lies along the edge of subducting plates, creating countless breathtaking volcanic peaks – both active and dormant – as well as numerous hot springs.
Japan’s most famous volcanic formation is the iconic Mount Fuji - truly a natural wonder. It is hard to believe that something so perfectly symmetrical was created through explosive destruction and chaos.
Towering 3.7km above sea level, and snow capped for much of the year, Mount Fuji is visible from many vantage points – perhaps most memorably glimpsed from the window of a speeding bullet train.
While Mount Fuji has been dormant since the early 18th century, it is possible to witness an active volcano in southern Japan: the conical Mount Aso, which splutters sulphurous gasses from the centre of the world’s largest caldera.